The white tower before them had a distinct mariti style, resembling a coastal lighthouse.
The tower was situated on a nearby highland, offering what would surely be a splendid view from the top for overlooking the surroundings.
People ca and went at the entrance. Gauss and his party paused briefly before stepping inside.
Upon crossing the threshold, they found the interior spacious and brightly lit.
Every Adventurers Guild branch had its own distinctive characteristics.
In coastal port cities like Sena, the decorations featured distinct marine landscapes.
The walls weren't ordinary stone but were constructed from a light-colored stone with natural wave patterns, polished to a smooth finish.
A massive sand table of the bay was placed in the center of the hall, simulating the surrounding terrain, ocean textures, and island distribution.
Additionally, many large, yellowed nautical charts caught the eye, specially marked with skull symbols indicating dangerous sea areas and shipping routes.
Various artistic ship models, ships in bottles, and treated sea beast skulls were prominently displayed throughout the guild's leisure area.
Beyond the distinctive marine-thed decorations, Gauss noticed sothing else not found in other places.
It was on the second-floor hall.
On a massive bulletin board, nurous upper-body portraits of people were pinned.
Gauss moved closer and saw amounts noted at the bottom of these portraits.
Looking at the fierce-faced criminals depicted, Gauss's mories from his previous life were stirred.
Could this world also have so kind of Pirate King and great treasure?
Shaking his head, Gauss continued examining the bulletin board.
The board was densely covered with bounty posters, a gathering of all sorts of villains—pirates, alien raiders, criminals who committed all manner of evils... truly a "constellation of stellar scum."
"Attacked rchant ships, killed over fifty crew mbers."
"Posed as a shipwreck in the Misty Shipping Lane to lure, rob, and massacre rescuers."
"Colluded with sea demons to cause mariti disasters."
"Engaged in illegal slave trade, capturing coastal residents and fishern."
Besides humans, many seafolk fugitives could also be seen among these wanted individuals.
The bounties ranged from 10 gold coins to 500 gold coins.
Gauss didn't see any bounty posters below 10 gold coins;
perhaps those targets were too weak to warrant special bounties.
However, these visible, tempting bounties weren't easy to claim.
Take the highest bounty of 500 gold coins for example, targeting a violent hybrid seafolk called "Ripfin," half-human, half-shark. His estimated strength level was around level 8.
Furthermore, operating at sea, this half-shark seafolk could co and go freely. Even if soone had the strength to overpower him, tracking him down would be extrely difficult.
But 500 gold coins was indeed a substantial sum, and one must also consider that a powerhouse of his level would likely carry valuable loot.
Overall, successfully killing him could easily yield over a thousand gold coins in a single operation.
Gauss's gaze lingered on the bounty bulletin board for a while.
He wanted to ensure he could recognize these faces imdiately if they ever appeared before him.
After morizing all the faces,
he went to the counter, presented his adventurer identification badge and the Blackfang Tribe's commission docunt. After briefly explaining the situation, the receptionist's attitude imdiately turned serious.
"I will notify our leadership for you."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble."
While waiting, Gauss glanced around to observe the distribution of professionals on the second floor.
Adventurers from level 1 to 5 were present, with level 1 professionals still forming the majority. However, unlike small towns like Grayrock Town, the total number of professionals here was larger, so level 5 adventurers were frequently seen.
Additionally, Gauss spotted a few adventurers wearing Black Iron-rank identification badges, but they didn't linger on the second floor. Instead, they headed straight up the stairs to the third floor.
So, was the third floor the activity space for higher-level adventurers?
Gauss pondered this.
Guild branches in towns like Grayrock Town and Lincrest Town only needed two floors, but major cities had more powerful adventurers, naturally requiring a separate area to serve them.
He had no issue with this.
Different levels and different circles were normal.
It was also beneficial for lower-level adventurers.
Reducing contact opportunities also minimized the chance of friction. Moreover, with significant differences in strength levels, the commission difficulties they faced were entirely different. Separate handling improved efficiency.
Of course, while he agreed with this practice in principle, it didn't an Gauss wasn't envious.
People always harbor aspirations for a better future.
While Gauss was lost in thought,
the receptionist returned with a female leader from the third floor.
"Tap—tap—tap."
Her heels made clear, sharp sounds as they struck the smooth floor tiles.
Drawing the attention of other adventurers on the second floor.
Her voluminous long hair rested naturally on her left shoulder. She wore studious gold-rimd glasses and held a stack of docunts.
However, contrasting with her relatively professional attire, Gauss faintly sensed a restrained professional's aura about her.
Clearly, she wasn't an ordinary clerk powerless to even tie up a chicken.
Under the curious gazes of everyone, she walked gracefully over to Gauss's group.
"Mr. Gauss, this is Director Adelle from the Eastern District Branch of the Sena City Adventurers Guild."
Unlike the elderly gentleman who received them in Lincrest Town, this ti the person in charge of liaison was a youthful female director.
"Mr. Gauss, hello."
"Hello, Director Adelle."
"Shall we move to the VIP room for detailed discussions?"
Not intending to chat excessively in public, Adelle gestured ahead to lead the way.
Gauss and the others promptly followed.
Only after their figures disappeared into a room at the end of the corridor did discussions erupt in the hall.
"Was that person who just ca down from the third floor?"
"I think she's guild leadership. I saw her last year with President Rachel."
"So what's the status of the adventurer she's receiving? Could they be so important figure?"
"Shh...."
Generally, adventurers from different floors were received by corresponding guild staff on those floors. This situation was rare,
naturally sparking speculation among other adventurers.
After closing the door, the VIP room beca extrely quiet.
This room must have undergone special soundproofing treatnt;
not a single sound from outside penetrated, as if they were in two separate worlds.
"These are the proofs we collected regarding this commission." Gauss took a bag from his Storage Bag and placed it on the table.
"Director Adelle, do you need to inspect them?"
Adelle's gaze lingered on the group for a mont before she gently waved her hand, showing no intention of opening the bag to check.
"That won't be necessary. In fact, we have already received prior notification about you, Mr. Gauss."
"Oh?" A trace of surprise appeared on Gauss's face.
Prior notification about him?
What if he had gone to another Adventurers Guild branch, say, one in the Forest Capital, Barry, which he had visited before?
Even if he ca directly to Sena City, there were several guild branches here.
This could only an that the Adventurers Guild seed well-inford about his itinerary and destination.
As for notifying all the surrounding guild branches? That possibility couldn't be ruled out, but judging by Adelle's tone, it didn't seem likely.
"Pardon my asking, if your guild's intelligence network is so powerful, why couldn't you pinpoint the specific location for this Blackfang Tribe commission? Of course, if it involves confidential information, please disregard my question." Gauss couldn't restrain his curiosity and asked.
"Hehe, this isn't really a secret that can't be disclosed. It's because the commission location is already deep within the Erald Forest, making it impossible to obtain an accurate address."
"The Erald Forest itself is territory controlled by monsters, protected by a natural barrier. Our guild's various scouting and divination spells are ineffective there."
"Moreover, for powerful forces like the Blackfang Tribe, even within the monster nation, the difficulty of divining intelligence about them increases significantly."
"I understand."
Upon hearing this, Gauss nodded thoughtfully.
Adelle's explanation wasn't hard to understand. Simply put, it depended on whose territory the target was located in. If it was within human territory, the guild could relatively easily detect their intelligence. If it was within areas actually controlled by monsters, the difficulty of detection increased substantially.
The treatnt of "temporary workers" with no backing—wild monsters without faction affiliation—was completely different from that of "officially registered," "organized" legitimate monsters.
Thinking of this, he suddenly also understood why, when he was still a low-level adventurer taking commissions around villages, most monsters encountered were ordinary, and elite monsters were almost never seen.
Over ti, those elite monsters didn't dare to venture out of the Erald Forest casually.
As for why human adventurers could continuously explore the Erald Forest, it might be because the monster faction didn't have a behemoth organization like the Adventurers Guild? Or there might be other special reasons.
"Actually, Mr. Gauss, your ability to complete the commission so far ahead of the estimated two-month duration has also surprised us greatly."
"Just lucky," Gauss said with a light smile.
Images of those lovely pixies surfaced in his mind again.
After they burned those goblins, they had returned the pixies to their hos.
Finding the goblin tribe's specific location so smoothly was entirely thanks to the help of these forest natives.
However, this was also a mutually beneficial act. An excessive number of goblins in the forest similarly threatened the pixies' normal lives.
Moreover, the pixie leader had gifted him a flower mark, said to represent the pixies' friendship. With this mark, no matter where he went, he could imdiately receive the pixies' friendship and assistance.
"There isn't that much luck in the world. It seems you are indeed as recorded in the intelligence reports—extrely adept at dealing with goblins."
"And this ti, you eliminated a Goblin Chieftain with a challenge level of 6 and over a thousand goblins." As Adelle said this, her beautiful eyes couldn't help but scrutinize the team mbers a few more tis.
Level 2, 3, 4, 5—very neatly arranged identification badges.
If word got out that an adventurer team with this configuration had wiped out a level 6 goblin leader accompanied by nurous elite goblins and over a thousand ordinary goblins, people would surely dismiss it as so kind of baseless rumor.
After Gauss successfully completed the commission, the Adventurers Guild could use him as an "anchor point" for scouting and intelligence gathering, ultimately compiling a report that astonished many staff mbers.
The day the Eastern District Branch of the Sena City Adventurers Guild received the superior intelligence, she happened to be in President Rachel's office. Rachel had therefore beco curious about Gauss and specifically instructed her to receive them properly, not treating them as ordinary Bronze-rank adventurers.
"Just fortunate, fortunate," Gauss replied, still wearing a faint smile on his face.
This slightly disappointed Adelle, who had hoped to hear so specific details.
Gauss looked young but was actually more composed than she imagined, lacking the impulsiveness of youth. Even when faced with a feat that most would find utterly incomprehensible, even "incredible," he appeared remarkably calm.
As if he had rely casually slain a few goblins by the roadside.
"Then let's get straight to the point. I assu you are here to exchange the rewards for this 'non-public' special commission?" Adelle spread the item list open on the table.
Gauss and the others quickly gathered around.
Even Shadow, who usually appeared the most composed, leaned forward slightly.
The contents of the item list were categorized into skills/spells, equipnt, magical items, mounts, inheritances, and other services.
The array of items was dazzling.
Beside many item nas, brief magical illustrations and effect descriptions were attached, clearly indicating the considerable effort put into creating this list.
"Can we choose from all these and receive them imdiately upon exchange?" Gauss looked up at Adelle.
Seeing the sparkle in Gauss's eyes, Adelle smiled faintly.
Faced with rewards, he finally showed a bit of eagerness befitting his age.
"Yes. Mr. Gauss, if you have other needs not listed, you can also ntion them. We can transfer them from warehouses in other cities, but that might require a waiting period. Additionally, the number of choices you can make is limited, so please choose carefully."
"For spells, each of you can choose two spells or skills you need. For other items, corresponding value points are listed alongside them."
"Understood."
Gauss looked through them one by one.
In terms of skills, most were spells, divine spells, and so archery and stealth techniques.
Mostly 2nd to 3rd circle.
2nd circle: Enlarge/Reduce, Levitate, Acid Arrow, Web...
3rd circle: Fireball, Counterspell, Fly, Vampiric Touch, Dispel Magic...
Many of the 3rd circle spells made Gauss's heart race with desire.
He wanted every single one.
Unfortunately, he was only level 4 currently.
And normally, learning 3rd circle spells required a spellcaster level of 5.
But, that was under normal circumstances... Could he learn them in advance?
He believed that things other spellcasters couldn't achieve, he might very well be able to.
First was Fireball.
He had been eyeing this spell for a long ti.
This 3rd circle Evocation spell was a renowned, iconic offensive spell even within spellcaster circles, considered the "mage's signature."
It could generate a massive ball of fire that erupts upon impact.
It could cover a large area of enemies, making it an extrely effective tool for clearing groups.
Furthermore, this spell was highly suitable for heightened spellcasting. Its power would continue to expand with higher circles, leading many spellcasters, even those far beyond level 5, to habitually use it.
Thus, it had left a very distinct mark in the long river of spell history.
Imagine how terrifying a Fireball spell cast by a Legendary mage would be.
Fly was also much more powerful than simple Levitate. It could grant the caster, or another willing creature, the ability to fly. For the duration, the target could fly freely and move with great agility in the air.
Of course, this spell had its shortcomings. It required concentration. If the spell ended prematurely, the target risked falling from a great height, necessitating Feather Fall to avoid fall damage.
Vampiric Touch was a 3rd circle Necromancy spell.
It was a favorite of many mages engaged in close-quarters combat, a classic spell of "benefiting oneself at others' expense."
The effect was to fill the caster's hand with negative energy, making a lee spell attack. If it hit, it would cause necrotic damage.
More crucially, this attack would also carry a certain life-stealing effect, draining the enemy's vitality to replenish the caster's own.
He was originally a lee mage and happened to possess a brawling form.
Imagine him activating his Sturdy Scales form, attacking with Dragon Claw, while also shrouded in the Vampiric Touch spell effect. How potent would the combined effect be?
Dispel Magic was used to end a specific spell effect on a target or in a specific area.
Of course, both Counterspell and Dispel Magic required the users to be within relatively close power levels.
It was impossible for an Elite spellcaster to use these spells to nullify the effects of a Legendary spellcaster's magic.
They all suited him so well.
The more Gauss looked, the more tempted he felt.
It seed as if every spell was tailor-made for him.
He could only choose two spells. Of course, Gauss knew this was actually sufficient. For many spellcasters, mastering and perfecting two spells appropriate for their level required a long ti.
As for 2nd circle spells, he temporarily wasn't considering them.
Having finally gotten this benefit opportunity, he naturally had to maximize the benefits.
Because he was confident that it wouldn't take too long for him to reach level 5. At worst, he could just store them for later.
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